Falcons Stoop to new low at Quins

Mar 30 2008 by Nick Purewal, Sunday Sun

Harlequins 15 Falcons 9

IF Newcastle proved a point at The Stoop yesterday, then they have Harlequins – and specifically Chris Malone and De Wet Barry – to thank.

Climbing off the sanctity of the bench into a drenched Twickenham afternoon, Malone shanked two identical penalties to hand the Falcons a losing bonus-point they tried hard to throw away.

The Falcons still slumped to their fifth straight Guinness Premiership defeat – their worst run since 2002-3 – and as for Barry, the 39-cap South African hardman lived up to his tough-tacking reputation.

Poleaxing Mathew Tait about two million years after the ball had been booted ahead, Barry launched himself into the Newcastle man, landing shoulder on head, spinning the England flyer 360 degrees before he crashed to the turf.

The red card was all referee Martin Fox could reach for, and the Leicester-based official wasted little time giving Barry his marching orders.

Neither head coach saw the incident, so late was the stiffest of arms which laid Tait low for more than 10 minutes on the turf.

Oxygen was called for, as was a stretcher, but thankfully in the event neither were required, because teak-tough Tait clambered to his feet – gingerly – and was helped off the park.

Interim Falcons rugby director Steve Bates had little comment to make, other than to make assurances as to Tait’s health.

Sitting in the changing room chewing the fat in defeat’s aftermath, Tait was said to be faring fairly well, all things considered.

Quins rugby director Dean Richards admitted he had extended an immediate apology to Tait at the final whistle – as did red-card rogue Barry.

Richards said: “De Wet has already been to Mathew and apologised profusely to him, as I have as well.

“De Wet does have a reputation for tackling hard and throwing himself into it.

“It depends when the RFU convene a hearing as to whether we will impose a club ban, any hearing might be as soon as Tuesday.

“He apologised to me as well.”

After all was said and done, apologies and platitude exchanged, this was a match in which Newcastle competed well, but one in which they were too generous penalty-wise.

Another wet weekend for the Falcons meant another turgid afternoon of keep it tight and you might be all right.

Well it worked in terms of gaining one point, but it never threatened the four that a win would have brought.

Newcastle looked most dangerous when they opened it up and played with pace and daring.

But it was just too wet and too windy for them to do that more often.

Of course the same can be said for Quins, but the Falcons pack stood up to a tall test with fine resolve.

Newcastle provided the move of the afternoon in fact, breaking from their own 22 through Ollie Phillips at first-receiver, with Matt Thompson taking it on.

John Rudd provided the move’s crux, breaking outside and straightening just enough for Jonny Wilkinson to make a good line break in the outside centre berth.

Andy Buist then trucked it up before Phillips chipped behind, only for the impressive Danny Care to mop up.

Good but not good enough – the move and Newcastle’s whole afternoon.